Separable fastener



May 9, 1 J B. FREYSINGER SEPARABLE FASTENER Filed Feb. 11, 1952 5 5 w A o F w VI 5 9 u W 5 AV w v/ w U shown one embodiment which the Patented May 9, 1933 UNITED; STATES};

PAZTENI?OFFICE JOHN, B. rmsmemor-miw331mm,.coniincrrcnr nssrenon TO museums:

' MANUFACTURING COMPANY, or miw nniram coNNECTICUTfA cQmORATIoN .01!"

CONNECTICUT SEPARABLE FASTENER.

Application filed February 11,}1932." SerialNo. 92,219.

This 1 invention relates to fasten ing -devices for connecting two-elements-or parts. of the same membertogether. As instancesof uses to which the-improvementsof the present invention may be 'appliedrreference may be had to belts, straps; wearing apparel, baggage, such as-brief bags; etc.

An aim of the inventionis to'provide aseparable fastener having a track or guide part and a slide part, theslide part beingadapted to be conveniently assembled on the guide part at any pointwithin thelength of the'latter and being; readily 'adj ustable along the guide parts have been-assemble A further aim of the invention is to provide a fastener of this sort whereinthe ratchet teethwvith which the track or guide member is provided are rearwardly directed and-thus being so disposed that there is,

littledanger of injuring the same or pieces of-cloth or the like catching thereon.

A'further aim of the'in-vention is to pro videa separable fastener ofr'this kind having various features -of novelty and advantage and which is particularly characterizedby its simplicity-andidurability andb'y' its effectiveness.

Other objects will 'be' inpart obvious and i1; part pointed out' more in detail hereina'ter;

The-invention accordingly-consists in the I features of construction; combination of elements and arrangement of'parts- 'which'iwill be exemplified in the construction hereinafter-set forth and the scope-of the a plica-, tion of which-will be indicatedin 't 'e' ap-. pended claims;

In the accompanying drawing, wherein "is invention may take Figure 1 isa -front'view of my improved fastening "device Fig. 2'is a side view thereof;

Fig.3 is a transverse sectional view on an enlargedscal, this -view"being taken substantially on line 33'=of 1 Fig. -4 is a view look'ng at the :bottomof the slide-part; a portion of the attaching member being broken- -away;

part after the two present Fig. 8 -is' a longitudinal, sectionalview through. the guide part; and

Fig 9 is aperspective. view of the attaching member; i 5

Referring A to the drawing, A designates, generally, the track or guide part; and "B designates generally, the slide portion orpartof thesfasten-ing device; The track A is in theform of an elongated strip-10f metal having a' pairof rearwardly extending sideflanges 10*each ,providedwith-a series of" rearwardly directed teeth' 11/ of ratchetshape, that is, each tooth has asquared end' or abutment and anincli'ned lower edge; It'

is within the scope of the present-invention:

toprovide but one of these fl-anges with a series 'ofteeth; The track member has; at

itsends suitable-means for securingthesame to an element which "is adapted to be; c0111 nected to another element. For; example, the

track member may haveateachend "a tongue. 12 adap'ted to; be securedbymivets 13 or thelike to the element which maybe the end of a strap or belt; theb'o'dy; portion of: abrief *bfag, etc: Th'eq'track at" each side, that is, a-t' tlie' junctures of the"'frontiwal l of'the track-"and the side flanges thereof, iscurved, J

as-at 14, so as toprovide'cam surfaces,- the purpose of which will be described. herein:

after more in detail." The pflane'of. Sliding:

movement of the slide] member or part is generally parallel tethe plane of the front rearwa'rdly directed withfirespect' to that plane.

The slide part of the fastening' deviceh as a-slide member designatedj generally by the; numeral 20 which is preferably formed of'f sheet'metaL- It has' an outer or top wallf21 anda-pair'of rearwardl'y directed side flanges-- 22- wh-ichare spaced apart-1a greater:distance:

The-slide memberhas; at'eaclr-end; a 'Slr'al than are' the flanges IQ "of thetrack member;

, wardly turned lugs 40, the inner edges of low, transversely extending and rearwardly directed web 23 and, at each side, a rib 24. These ribs are adapted to straddle the track member, as shown in Fig. 3. The numeral 25 designates an attaching strip or bridge shown most clearly in Fig. 9. This bridge has a pair of offset tongues 26 adapted to lie in the plane of the top wall 21 of the slide and also adapted to be secured to the other element- Y, as by means of 'rivets 27. The elements X- and-Y maybe the opposite ends of a belt or strap; the tabs on a garment or the like; or they may be, respectively, the body portion of a briefbag and the tab on the flap of the brief bag; etc. The attaching strip-is adapted to engage against the rear edges ofthe end webs 23, and it is secured to the slide member by means of ears 28 which are adapted to be bent into notches 29. The opposite side edges of the body portion of the bridge are turned forwardly so as to provide lugs 30 which,'when the parts are assembled, are spaced from the front wall 21 of the slide member.

Within the casing formed by the slide member 20 and the attaching member 25 are a pair ofslidablecatches 35 and 36, respec tively, which may be of similar construction, but these catches are reversely positioned, one with respect to the other and end to. end, within the casing. Each has a flat plate or body portion 37 adapted to engage and slide along the inner face of the top wall 21 of the slide member. The adjacent ends of the plate portions 37 have extensions 38 from which project finger pieces 39. On the opposed edges of these extensions are rearwhich are closely adjacent to the front face of the attaching strip when the parts are assembled. Each plate portion .37 has an edge 41 adapted to engage against the respective side flange 22 of the slide member. The other side edge of each plate 37 carries a rearwardly extending web 42 which projects behind the other catch. These webs 42 have, on their-rear edges, one or more inturned lugs or teeth 43 which are adapted to cooperate with the teeth of the track, as

hereinafter described more in detail. The

lips or inner rear edges of these teeth are slightly bevelled, as at 44, for the purpose which will be hereinafter described more in .er-together, the slide part is brought to the detail. 'The ends of these teeth form abutment's, so to speak, which are adapted to engage the abutments or squared ends of the teeth 11. It will be observed, from Figs. 3 and 7, thatthe flanges 42 extend rearwardly beyond the attaching member, or strip 25. For the purpose of urging the catches in the direction to engage the teeth'43 thereof with the teeth 11 of the track member, a suitable spring is provided which is here in the form of a double reversely bent wire 50 positioned between the lugs 40. The arms or end por be seen that the finger piece of each catch extends from one side of the slide member and the track part while the teeth or abutments' on'the catch are located adjacent the other side fiangeofthe. slide member and to the opposite side "of the track. Therefore, while the spring 50 tends toforce the finger pieces apart, the teeth Of' the two catches are urged towards each other. a I v,

As hereinafter explained more in detail, the slide part'may be moved or, ratcheted in one direction along the guide part without disengaging the catches from the toothed flanges of the track part. Inorder to per- 'mit of this, and also insure that the teeth of the catches, when in looking position, will engage the squared ends of the teeth of the track part, means is provided for normally urging the slide part outwardly and forwardly of the track part. This means may take various forms but, in the present illustrative disclosure,it is shown as comprising what may be termed for convenience a breather strip 55 on the track part anda spring 56 for urging the breather strip for-, wardly. length of metal having a raised centrally disposed through a longitudinal slot along the medial line of the track part. The breather strip fits between the flanges 10 of the track member,.as shown'most clearly in Fig. 3. The spring 56is in the form of aresilient ribbon or strip, the ends of which are supported in openings 58inthe'offset portions of the track member. This spring'has a central hump 59 engaging the rear face of the rib 57. The spring may be secured to the breather strip bybent over ears 60.

The operation of, my improved fastener will be readily understood from the foregoing description taken in connection-with the accompanying drawing. WVhen it is de-' sired to connect the two parts of the fastendesired position on the track with the curved lips 44 of the catches engaging. the outer curved corners 14 ofthe track, and then the slide part is pushed rearwardly towards thetrack, with theresult that the cooperating cam surfaces 44and 14 will force the toothed engage behind the to'othed side flanges of" the track, as shown in Fig- 3. This may bev This breather strip comprises a.

rib 57 projecting forwardly done at any point in'the length of thetrack by merely pushing the slide part onto the track without manually manipulating thefinger pieces. The breather strip now engages theattaching portion of the slide part so that that part is normallyurged outwardly of the track, which meansthat the teeth-of the catches are resiliently held, in the notches between the teeth 11 of the track. As the teeth'ot the catches are positioned behind the flanges of the track, accidental separation of readily adjusted in overlapping relation by merely gripping the slide part and moving it longitudinally in the proper direction relative to the track part.

in either direction along thetrack part moving the finger pieces towards each other and thus disengaging the catches from the flanges, that is, moving the teeth of the catches outwardly beyond the planes of-the side flanges of the track. The slide part any point along the length of the latter by merely pushing the finger pieces towards each other and then lifting the slide member away from the track.

As many changes could be made in the above construction and many apparently widely different embodiments of this invention could be made without departing from thescope thereof, it is intended that all mat ter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawing shall 5 be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. I I 1 It is also to be understood that thela-nguage used in the followingclaimsis intended to cover allot the generic andspecific features of the invention herein described and all statements of the scope of the invention which, asa matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween. l

I claim as my'inventionz 1. Ina separable fastener, a slide having a slide memberprovided with a front wall,side flanges, vand end webs of less depth than-the side flanges, a bridge member extending longitudinally of said slide member andengaging the rear edges of said web's, a pair of similar catches within the space between said front wall and bridge member, said'catches being reversely placed end'to end, each catch having a flat 'plate' portion along one side edge of which is a Thus, the strap ends are normally held against being drawn apart, but they maybe It is, of course, apparent that the slide part may be adjusted part rearwardly directed'web provided fwith turned teeth, each match also having extend ing from its other side. edgea finger pieceg opposed lugs on 'said catches, andiaiispring betweensaid lugs- Y 2. In a separable 1 fastene'nfiar guide parrt" having a pair of flan'ges each provided on its rear edge with a series of i ratchetitecthg a'slide member adapted-to slide longitudi V, nally on the guidevpart'; said fianges extend ing rearwardly with respect to the' -iplane' ofi sliding movement of I said slide :member'; a pair of 1 oppositely acting catches :on said": slide :member and-having teeth "formedrand positioned: to engage: behind the respectiwe flanges and cooperate'wwith f -theteeth there of, a spring formed and arranged on 'ysaid 1, slide member for normallyfurging said catches in a direction to engage thes'samesi with said flanges, and finger pieces-on thecatches and so formed and-positioned ias*= when moved towards I 'each other to A release; thecatchesfrom said flanges.- a i 3. In a separablefastener, a' gu'ide' part having a "pair of flanges "each provided with a series of abutments, a slide mem b'e'r str'ad i dling said guide part and adapted to-slide longitudinally thereon, a pair 1 'of slidabie catches carried 'by 'said slide member and having'tooth'ed, portionsformed and" posttioned to: straddle' sa-id flanges; said toothed' v portions having teeth formed and positi'oned may be readlly separated from the trackat when the parts are assembled,-and' a springformed and arranged :on said slide member" for urging the toothed portions of the" catchestowards each other and the-finger" pieces away from each other;

4. In a separable fastener, a guide part;

a slide-member adap'ted toy straddle-fisaid guide part and slide longitudinally-thereon, saidguide part-having a pair of flanges 1 0 rearwardly directed withrespect to the-plane of sliding movement ofsaid slide-member, a pair of catches slidably mounted in said' guide part and having portions formed and positioned to engagebehind the rear edges of said flanges, each of saidcatch'es having afinger piece located outside*of"the 'slidea member, the finger piece and -theengaging portion of" each catchbeingy'disposed 'at 'op posite sides of the guide part'wh'en the parts are assembled, and a spring-formed and" arranged on said slidemember'for norma lly urging said catches i'nto' locking Frelation to the guide part. a i 5, Ina separable fastener, a 'guide-part having a pair-of flanges oneat leastof which is provided onits rear edge with rearward;

1y directed 'ratchetf'teeth, afslide member" adapted to slide'on said-guidepart' and lia'v' 1ngside flanges straddlingthe-guide -part,

said flanges being rearwardly directed with respect to the; plane ofsliding movement of saidslide member, a, pair of catches slidably mounted in said slide member and having rearwardly extending webs withinthe side flanges of vthe slide member and formed and positionedto straddle the guide part, said webs having inwardly directed portions formed and positioned to engage the rear edges of the flanges of the guide part, said catches having finger pieces located outside of said slidemember, and a spring formed and arranged on said slide member for normally urging said webs towards each other.

-6. In a separable fastener, a guide part having a pairrof flanges each provided on its rear edge with a series of ratchet teeth, a slide -member ,slidably mounted on said guide part and adapted to straddle the same,

said flanges being rearwardly directed with respect to the plane of sliding movement of said slide member, a pair of catches on said slide member and each having a rearwardly extending web 7 provided with inwardly 'turned, teeth at its rear edge, said webs be-' ing formed and positioned to straddle said flanges of the guide part and the teeth thereof beingformed and positioned to cooperate with the teeth on the guide part,

each catch having a finger. piece disposed,

outside of the slide membertthe finger piece and web. of each catchxbeing on opposite sides of the guidepart; and a spring between said catches and normally urging the webs thereof; towards; each other.

7. Ina-separable fastener, a-guide part7 having apair of flanges each having a serles of ratchet teeth on its rear edge, a slide member slidably mounted on said guide part and adapted to straddle the same, said flanges being rearwardly directed with respect to the planeof sliding movement of said slide member, and a pair of like catches reversely positioned relativeto one another and in end to endrelation within said slide mem v ber, each catch having a rearwardly extending Web and each web having onits rear edge, an inwardly directed tooth, said webs between said catches normally urging the same in a direction to move the webs to- Wards each other;

8. In a separable fastener,' a guide part having a pair of flanges one at least of which is provided on its rear edge with a series of 'abutments; a slideparthaving a slide member adapted to slide longitudinally on-the. guide part, said flanges being rearwa'rdly irected with respect to the plane of sliding; movement of saidslide member, and spring pressed catches onthe slide part and formed and positioned to respectively engage the rear edges of said flanges, one of said catches having means for cooperating with said abutments to prevent sliding movement of the slide part in one direction but permitting sliding movement in the opposite direction; andvresilient means for urging said slide part away from said guide part.

9. In a separable fastener, a guide part having a pair of flanges one at least ofwhich isprovided on its rear edge with aseries of rearwardly directed ratchet teeth; a slide part having a slide member adapted to slide longitudinally on the guide part, said flanges being rearwardly directed with respect to the plane of sliding movement ofsaid slide member, catches on the slide parthaving portions formed and positioned to engage the rear edges of said flanges, one at least of said catches having a tooth formed and positioned to cooperate with said ratchet teeth to prevent sliding movement of the slide part in one direction but permitting of sliding movement in the opposite direction, and

spring means normally urging said catches in a direction to engage the samev with said flanges; and resilient means carried by said guide part for urging said slide part outwardly and thereby resiliently hold the tooth of said catch against the teeth of said guide part. s

10. In a separable fastener, a guide part having a pair of flanges each of which is provided on its rear edge with. a series of ratchet teeth; a slide part havinga slide member adapted to slide longitudinally on the guide part, said flanges being rearwardly directed with respect to the plane of sliding movement of said slide member, and spring pressed catches on the slide member and having teeth formed and positioned to respectively engage behind the rear edges: of said flanges and cooperate with the teeth thereof; and a spring pressed member formed and arranged on said guide part for urging said slide part outwardly of the guide part.

11. In a separable fastener, a guide part having a pair of flanges one at least of which is provided on its rear edge with rearwardly directed ratchet teeth; a slide part having a slide member adapted to slide on said guide part and having side flanges straddling the guide part, said flangesbeing rearwardly directed with respect to the plane of sliding movement of said slide member, a pair of catches slidazbly mounted in said slide member and having rearwardly extending webs within. the side flanges of the slide member and adapted to straddle the guide part, said webs having' inwardly directed portions formed and positioned to engage the rear edges of the flanges of they guide part, said catches having finger pieces located outside of said slide member, and a spring formed and arranged on said slide member for normally urging said webs towards each other; a strip extending longitudinally of said guide part and formed and positioned to engage the rear face of said slide part, and a spring formed and arranged on said guide part for urging said strip against said slide part.

12. In a separable fastener, a guide part having a pair of flanges one at least of which is provided on its rear edge with a series of abutments, a slide part having a slide member adapted to slide longitudinally on the guide part, said flanges being rearwardly directed with respect to the lane of sliding movement of said slide mem er, and spring pressed catches on the slide part and having engaging portions formed and positioned to engage behind the rear edges of said flanges, the engaging portions of one of said flanges being formed and positioned to cooperate with said abutments to prevent sliding movement of the slide part'in one direction and permit of sliding movement in the opposite direction, said flanges and catches having cooperating retracting means adapted to move the catches to inoperative position when the slide part is pushed laterally towards and onto the guide part whereby said slide part may be mounted on said guide part at any point in the length of the latter.

13. In a separable fastener, a guide part having a pair of flanges one at least of which is provided on its rear edge with a series of rearwardly directed ratchet teeth; a slide part having a slide member adapted to slide longitudinally on the guide part, said flanges being rearwardly directed with respect to the plane of sliding movement of said slide member, catches on the slide part having engaging portions formed and positioned to engage behind the rear edges of said flanges, the engaging portions of one of said catches being formed and positioned to cooperate with said ratchet teeth to prevent sliding movement of the slide part in one direction but permitting of sliding movement in the opposite direction, and

spring means normally urging said catches in a direction to engage the same with said flanges; said guide part having cam surfaces against which said engaging portions of said catches are adapted to engage so that said catches are cammed in opposite directions when the slide part is pushed laterally towards and onto the guide part.

14. In a separable fastener, a guide part comprising a strip having a front wall and flanges extending rearwardly from the side edges of said front wall, each of said flanges being provided on its rear edge with a series of ratchet teeth, the longitudinal corners of said guide part being curved; a slide part having a slide member adapted to,

slide longitudinally on the guide part, a pair of oppositely acting catches on said slide member and formed and positioned to straddle said guide part and having teeth formed and positioned to engage the curved edges of said guide part and be cammed outwardly thereby when the slide part is pushed laterally onto and towards the guide part.

JOHN B. FREYSINGER. 

